This is an early 19th century bamboo carving of Liu Hai riding on the back of his three-legged toad. He is shown holding a Chinese coin in his left hand while his right hand holds the toads mouth open. Obviously Liu Hai has just pried the coin out of the toads mouth.
The piece measures 4 high and is 3 wide by long front to back. It is ...click for details
This is a lovely little round or paste or cosmetic box that has been made of very thin strips of a wood or vegetable material and tightly woven to form the box and the lid. We think the material is a probably thin bamboo strip but it could be made of some raffia or reed type plant. The box measures 2 5/8 diameter and is 1 Ό high to the top of the slightly domed lid.
This is a cute and heavy wooden carving (okimono) of the Hear No Evil monkey. The piece has apparently had a lead weight inserted through a hole in the base, as the wood itself could not be as heavy as the piece is probably for use as a paperweight. The wood was then lacquered in gold and copper colors with a nice design painted in gold on the back of the monkeys robe. The piece measures 2 ½ high by 2 wide by 2 3/8 deep. It is in fine condition some rubbing to the lacquer e ...click for details
This is a zitan inkpaste box. These are in principle not rare: but ones in such fine condition are virtually impossible to buy in Beijing now. It is carved to look like a section of a tree trunk. The nodes of the tree, the little branches on the bottom are very realistically carved. It measures 3" long by 2 1/4" wide by 1 5/8" high and is in superb condition. There is a label on the inside that identifies the piece as having been a part of the Jizhen Zhai Collection.(See last para ...click for details
This is one of the most unusual pieces we have ever had in our collection. It was purchased from a dealer here in the US who later moved to Indonesia. The piece is a single piece of a rather hard wood (hard to scratch with a razor). On the upper surface is a very intricate set of hand carved characters arranged in nine vertical columns. A thin border of Greek key designs and a stylized floral border at the top surround these columns of characters. ...click for details
This is an interesting Chinese carved wooden figure of a court attendant or possibly a Buddhist priest. The figure holds a straight scepter in his two hands. The face and hands have traces of gesso covered with red paint. The headdress was also covered with gesso and a dark blue/green paint - and some traces of gilt paint. There are still a few traces of paint on the body and the seat or throne on which the figure is seated. On the back there is a square hole which would have been used to i ...click for details
A finely carved tiny wooden Kwan Yin, Goddess of Mercy. The piece is carved from a single piece of wood, with multiple arms inserted on the sides - only three of which remain. The carving has a small bit of blue paint decoration on the headdress whilst the rest of the piece is in the natural wood. The Kwan Yin stands on a stylized lotus blossom. The entire piece measures 1 7/8" hihg and is is 1/2" diameter - amazing detail for such a small carving in what appears to be rather soft wood ...click for details
This is a very detailed and fine relief carving of a Chinese immortal riding on an elephant. Over his right shoulder he has a long pole with what appears to be a hat or a bg of some sort. The carving is particularly good on this piece it is then covered in gold paint possibly even gilt. The carving measures 12 ½ high by 6 Ό wide by 5/8 deep. It is in excellent condition. We date it to the late Qing period, circa 1850-1910. ...click for details
A hexagonal snuff bottle - or even possibly a medicine bottle - made of wood inlaid with bone ivory insets. The wood is probably rosewood from the from the color and grain. Each of the bone ivory insets have different incised picture of flowers - the both the top and the bottom of the piece are lappet border of palm leaves. The top is solid wood with a pouring spout made of the same ivory and made as a screw top for a screw on lid. The top stopper and spoon are missing. The base is undecorated w ...click for details
A Chinese brush rest for the scholars desk to rest his brushes on whilst writing calligraphy or landscape paintings. The piece is carved from a single piece of horn - probably buffalo - and has design of two long eared rabbits fighting over control of what appears to be a pine cone or some unknown fruit. Nice detailing in the faces and tails and the item they are trying to wrest from one another. The brush rest measures 4 3/8" long by 1 3/4" high by 1 1/8" wide. We date it to the ...click for details
This is a fine natural rootwood piece that has not been enhanced in any way. It would make a superb base for an intricate ikebana arrangement or it can simply stand on its own as a beautiful piece of natural sculpture. It can be set on several of its sides and present a different aspect in each position each quite handsome. The piece measures 14 long by 9 high by 13 ½ wide depending on which way it is placed on its side. A fine decorative addition to an Asian collection. We believe it is ...click for details
A nice little natural double gourd with a wooden stopper attached by a silk cord around the neck of the gourd. We believe it is probably Chinese since so many gourd items are from that country. We also believe it to be 20th century but it could be even earlier. The piece measures 3 1/3" high and is 2 1/2" diameter at the widest part of the base. No idea what it would be used for - possibly a small powder horn or water dropper ? Excellent condition.
A very simple but handsome yatate a scholars holder for his brush and ink. This yatate is shaped as a narrow fan and opens on a hand made copper/bronze swivel. At the wide end is the metal well that held the solidified ink and the shaft holds the narrow brush with horse hair bristles. The yatate shows signs of excellent use and patina which leads us to date it to the late Edo to early Meiji period, circa 1850-1880. It measures 10 long and is 1 wide at the widest end and 5/8 wide at the ...click for details
